fl 5 RECREATION AND SPORTS

In the early days, there was not too much time available for recreation, and what there was, took place close to home: ceilidhs, barn dances, story-telling, sing-songs and fiddling in the homes during the long winter evenings. There was much visiting between homes, much more than today; visitors often stayed all day, and sometimes for several days.

We consulted with two senior residents of Stanhope about recreational activities here at the turn of the century; both agreed that entertainment consisted largely of social gatherings at peoples’ homes. There were knitting, hooking and quilting parties; the women would come in the afternoon or earlier, the men arriving later for a pot-luck supper, and the evening often ended with a dance.

Joe Robison remembered that during the fall the men would often gather together at a home in the district for card plays, the prizes consisting of ducks, chickens or beef. Another type of social event centred round wood-chopping. Cassie Marshall clearly remembers one such affair at David Carr’s; the men arrived early, and began to chop and split the wood; the women brought baskets of food, and after the work was done there was supper; a dance followed, with Isaac Lawson providing the music with a J ew’s harp.

During the summer months there were the usual gatherings at different homes, but there were also high points such as the Tea Parties at Stanhope Beach Inn, Seaside Inn and Corran Ban. Some- times during these parties there would be friendly sailboat races from Covehead Harbour to the head of the Bay and back. Picnics at the shore were popular; residents of Stanhope would go to the beach at the end of Stanhope Lane, the children being occupied with swimming, and the men involved in playing ball and horseshoes, while the women would sew and look after the lunch.

186